UK Dental Workforce Expands with 3.1% Increase

UK: The General Dental Council (GDC) has released its annual registration figures, revealing a 3.1% increase in the number of dentists registered in the UK. As of 2025, there are 45,580 dentists on the register following the annual renewal period. This marks an increase of 1,371 dentists compared to the previous year.

Over the past five years, the number of registered dentists has shown a steady upward trend:

• 2021: 41,863
• 2022: 42,215
• 2023: 43,130
• 2024: 44,209
• 2025: 45,580

Despite the overall growth in registrations, 793 dentists did not renew their registration in 2025. This represents 1.7% of the total registrants, the lowest proportion of non-renewals in the past five years. In previous years, the non-renewal rates ranged between 2.3% and 2.9%.

Factors Contributing to Registration Removals

The GDC has identified several reasons why dentists have been removed from the register. These include voluntary removals, non-payment of the annual retention fee (ARF), retirement, and notifications of death.

In 2024, the number of non-renewals stood at 1,004, indicating a significant decrease in 2025. The lower figure may suggest improved retention efforts within the profession or shifting career trends among dental professionals.

Insights into Dentists’ Working Patterns

While the GDC registration data provides valuable insights into overall numbers, the organization cautioned that the figures do not offer a comprehensive understanding of dentists’ working patterns. A spokesperson for the GDC stated:

“While the register is constantly changing, what we invariably see (for both the dentist and dental care professional registers) is that over the course of the year, the number of registered professionals increases due to new registrations, and then that number drops at the point of renewal as professionals leave the Register for a range of reasons.”

The GDC further noted that the registration data does not capture information regarding full-time versus part-time work, or the proportion of dentists working within the NHS compared to private practice.

Future Insights Expected

To address the gaps in understanding, the GDC has undertaken efforts to gather more detailed information about dentists’ working arrangements. The regulator has been examining factors such as the division between NHS and private dentistry, as well as the distinction between clinical and non-clinical roles. The findings from this investigation are expected to be published later in the first quarter of 2025.